On March 11, 1901 Charles Comiskey Makes History
1901: John McGraw, manager of the Baltimore Orioles, is considering playing a Cherokee Indian named Chief Tokohama, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
However, McGraw’s Tokohama is actually an African-American named Charlie Grant.
McGraw’s plan will fail when Chicago White Sox owner Charles Comiskey learns that Grant is a member of the Columbia Giants, an African-American team that plays in Chicago.
“I’m not going to stand for McGraw bringing in an Indian on the Baltimore team,” Comiskey will say. “If Muggsy (McGraw) really keeps this Indian, I will get a Chinaman of my acquaintance and put him on third. Probably I might whitewash a colored man.
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